Of the many things said and written after Manny Pacquiao’s tragic fall at the hands of old nemesis Juan Manuel Marquez, who has reportedly gone parading proudly around Mexico like a returning conquistador with the Pacman’s head in his upraised right hand, we find this one by respected boxing writer Manny Piñol most relevant and appropriate. Please share it:

People who are suggesting a fifth fight between Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao and Mexican legend Juan Manuel Marquez are either foolishly consumed with pride or they are simply afraid that with the Pacman out of the ring, their opportunity to make more money will vanish.

The knockout suffered by Pacquiao at the hands of Marquez was not just a result of a “lucky punch” as some pseudo boxing experts would like to call it. There are no “lucky punches” in boxing. Every punch thrown is aimed at hitting the opponent.

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The only antidote to that is to avoid the incoming “lucky punch.” If he is able to evade the punch, it is the defending boxer who is “lucky.”

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If the boxer is hit, the punch is not “lucky.” It simply means he is slow in reacting to an attack.

Manny’s knockout loss was simply a result of too many fights, in too many nights, in too many rings.

The first knockdown suffered by Manny came from a punch that a younger Pacquiao could have easily withstood or avoided.

But Manny just stood in front of Marquez with his left hand slightly lowered, thus opening his left temple to the right which sent him to the canvas, both feet up.

Pacquiao is no stranger to the canvas. He was knocked out cold by Rustico Torrecampo when he was younger.

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In another fight a few years later, he should have lost by knockout to Australian fighter Nedal Hussein had he not been aided by referee Carlos Padilla Jr. following a fall in the fourth round of their fight in October 2000.